Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
Does Chase Dollander have a chance to be this year’s Paul Skenes and do you think Dollander will start the season at Coors Field or come up later?
— Calvin Green, Aurora
Calvin, it would be cool if Dollander became baseball’s next wunderkind. But I don’t know if it will happen this season, despite the Rockies’ belief that he has the talent to be one of the best starters in franchise history.
The Rockies plan to open the season with a four-man rotation — Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Ryan Feltner, and Antonio Senzatela — because the early schedule allows them to do that. Then, Dollander could become the fifth starter, but he still has to win the job.
And keep in mind that lefty Austin Gomber will return at some point, even though he’ll begin the season on the injured list with a sore shoulder.
Dollander was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night in a Cactus League game against the Giants. He’s been inconsistent this spring (7.59 ERA over 10 2/3 innings, three homers allowed, 11 strikeouts and seven walks), so he needs a couple of strong starts to convince the Rockies that he’s big-league ready.
If Dollander doesn’t break camp with the big-league club, does it make sense to waste his talent pitching for Triple-A Albuquerque, where pitchers routinely get hammered? I don’t think so. Regardless, the Rockies face a critical decision with the right-hander.
In regard to Skenes, I don’t see Dollander coming close to matching what the Pirates’ right-hander did last season. Skenes went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, was the National League’s rookie of the year and the All-Star Game starter. He has a chance to be a generational pitcher.
How does this look as the starting rotation in Tampa: Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Antonio Senzatella, Ryan Feltner and Chase Dollander/Bradley Blalock for Austin Gomber until healthy? That’s a pretty good pitching staff, I think.
— Robb, Durango
Robb, following up on the previous question, I’ve been told the club will open the season with a four-man rotation. I’m unsure when Gomber will return, but I don’t think he’ll be out long. I think Blalock makes the team as a long reliever. The rotation has a chance to be much better and it has more depth than at any time since 2018.
By the way, how is life in Durango, my favorite place in the world? In case you didn’t know, I received my undergraduate degree from Fort Lewis, The Harvard of the San Juans.
Patrick, love the coverage! Who do you think is primed for a breakout season for the Rox? Michael Toglia just feels like he could be our next 40-homer slugger.
— Raleigh, Parker
Raleigh, Toglia, a switch hitter, certainly has the power to be a home-run hitter. He also has a lot of self-confidence. That’s all good. And he did hit 25 homers last season in 458 plate appearances. If he gets 100 more at-bats in 2025, he’ll likely hit 30-plus homers. But to get to 40 would be a quantum leap.
The biggest obstacle for Toglia is his high strikeout rate. Last season, he whiffed 32.1% of the time while hitting just .218. Toglia is hitting .250 this spring with two homers and a 28.6% K rate (through Monday).
Patrick, I’m so far impressed with this spring training season, seeing these young players showing promise for what will hopefully be a better future. My question is, will these young players be hungry enough not only to make it to our club but also to keep it, face the challenge head-on from playing at altitude, and translate 15 wins per month to reach a 90-win season? Thank you for your coverage. I’m looking forward to another baseball season. Go Rockies, for better or worse.
— Garrett, Golden
Garrett, I’m also impressed with the young players and the energy they bring.
As veteran lefty Kyle Freeland told me recently: “It’s not just about being in the big leagues, it’s about winning at the major league level. That message is resonating with the guys. We understand we’ve had some really bad years, but we are looking to turn it around. We know we have the tools, the skill set and the right guys to do that.”
That’s a great sentiment, but the young guys, as well as the veterans, have a lot to prove. At this point, a 90-win season looks like a pipe dream. Maybe in 2026, not in ’25.
Like most Rockies fans, I’ve been pretty bitter about the team (while continuing to follow it) for the last five years. This spring has changed my attitude toward the team, and I can’t help feeling optimistic about a team that might be better than I dare hope with a deep rotation, a promising bullpen, and an offense that should at least be young and interesting. I still don’t expect a winning season but I’m excited to have a team that could be fun. Has what you have seen this spring changed how you view this team at all?
— Isaac Bowen, Fort Collins
Piggybacking off the previous question, I think the team is slowly turning things around. However, there are still so many unknowns regarding the young players.
The Rockies need three of four of their young relievers to prove themselves for a full season, something that’s difficult when pitching at Coors Field. The high strikeout rate must come down, and the home runs must increase.
We’re going to see a better brand of baseball this season, and the Rockies aren’t going to lose 100 games again. However, the playoffs are still out of reach.
I have a theory that the spirit of the St. Louis Browns didn’t move to Baltimore in 1953; instead, it had a 40-year break and came back as the Rockies. They have eerily similar histories.
— Patrick O’Brien, Greeley
Seriously, I get this question a day after St. Patrick’s Day? Is your name really Patrick O’Brien? Sláinte!
Anyway, you forced me to look at the St. Louis Browns’ history. Did you know that they started as the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901? They moved to St. Louis in 1902 and played there for 51 years before becoming the Baltimore Orioles in 1954.
The Browns had a .433 winning percentage and made the playoffs just one time, in 1944, when they won the American League pennant before losing the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in six games.
The Rockies have a .462 winning percentage and have been to the playoffs five times in their 32 seasons. Of course, the playoff format has expanded during the Rockies’ existence.
Who might be a surprise last-minute cut or release?
— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.
Ed, I’m unsure if this qualifies as a surprise, but outfielder Sam Hilliard is definitely on the bubble. The Rockies hoped he would back up Brenton Doyle in center field and provide a left-handed bat off the bench. But Hilliard’s had a terrible spring training. Through Monday, he was hitting .063 (2 for 32) with a 50% strikeout rate (18 Ks in 36 plate appearances).
Speaking of bad springs, Kris Bryant has played in just nine games and has hit .136 (3 for 22) with one home run and one double. I’m sure the Rockies are easing him into the regular season, but those numbers are not encouraging.
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